How Jeff Sessions lied and kept his job as Attorney General

It was recently revealed through a Freedom of Information Act filed by a group called the American Oversight, that Jeff Sessions indicated on his security clearance form (SF86) when asked: “”Have you or any of your immediate family in the past seven (7) years had any contact with a foreign government, its establishment (such as embassy, consulate, agency, military service, intelligence or security service, etc.) or its representatives, whether inside or outside the U.S.?” Sessions responded “No.”

In February, Sessions at his Senate confirmation hearing was asked by Sen Al Franken: “Whether if it’s true, it’s obviously extremely serious and if there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do?” Sessions then responded “No.” (source)

In March, Sessions gave a News conference to clarify his senate confirmation hearing response which lead to him recusing himself from any Russian investigation. Sessions did confirm during his news conference that he met with Russian Ambassador Kislyak, maybe once or twice but the meetings were in passing and were not substantive enough for him to recall details.

On May 9, 2017, President Trump fired then FBI Director James Comey for what the president said “was a lack of confidence in Comey and advice from acting Attorney General Rosenstein. It came to light soon after that Sessions and Rosenstein were part of the conversation to fire Comey which if true would run counter to Sessions recusal from any/all Russian investigations. We now know that Sessions never really truly recused himself from the Russian investigation as Comey before he was fired was still actively investigating the Russians and Trump Campaign for potential collusion and obstruction crimes.

In June, Sessions appeared at a second senate hearing and testified to rumors whether he had met a third time with Russian Ambassador Kislyak. At that hearing an animated and smirked face Sessions adamantly disagreed with the prevailing narrative that he lied at his senate confirmation hearing and denied ever meeting Kislyak a third time at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington sometime on April 2016.

If Sessions recent obfuscations as Attorney General isn’t enough to make you second guess his ethical and moral compass to hold the position of Attorney General, the blog magazine Slate recently wrote a detailed and compelling article on “A look at the terrible things Jeff Sessions did as attorney general of Alabama. (source)

Jeff Sessions should never have been an Attorney General much less hold any position where his regressive policies can affect the lives of ordinary Americans. The man is a committed student of the Reagan doctrine of the 80’s except Sessions is not concerned or committed to eradicating “communism.” No, the 21st century Sessions is more concerned and committed to rolling back criminal reforms that has led to less overpopulated brown and black people in jails and prisons.

Sessions should follow then Bush Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez lead and resign immediately. Gonzalez at least took the ethical steps of resigning from his position when he claimed in a senate hearing he could not recall details of the firing of US Attorneys and didn’t seem to know the workings of his own Justice Department, but a published report then from the Washington Post proved Gonzalez at least knew about the firings and may have even been instrumental in them. Amid calls from both Democrats and Republicans, Gonzalez resigned a few weeks after his senate hearing for less than what Sessions is now accused of.

Sessions lied to the American people and to Congress and as such should no longer serve in his capacity as Attorney General nor should he be in a position where his antiquated regressive policies could have a lasting effect on the lives of ordinary Americans for years to come.